Botanical name:
Rosa damascena
Botanical family:
Rosaceae (Plants that belong to this family possess both balancing and soothing properties)
Synonyms:
Damask rose, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Rose otto
Geographical origin, habitat and plant morphology:
Rosa damascena, Rosa × damascena is a rose hybrid, derived from Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata . The Damask rose is native to Northern Persia (modern Iran) and thrives in open, sunny positions. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2.4 metres tall, the stems have stout, curved prickles and stiff bristles. The leaves are pinnate, with five leaflets. The roses are a light to moderate pink to light red. The relatively small flowers grow in groups. Rosa damascena is mainly cultivated in Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco, but is grown in other areas around the world.
Common method of extraction:
Steam distillation (Shugian, et al., 2017)
Part typically used:
Petals
Colour:
Rose Otto essential oil is colourless to pale yellow in colour
Odour:
Deep-floral, slightly spicy odour
Perfumery note:
Middle
Yield:
Requires 5 tons of rose petals to produce 1 litre of rose oil
Chemical composition:
Typical notable chemical composition of Rose (Rosa damascena): Esters 4.0%, Aliphatic aldehydes 0.5%, Ketones Yes, Sesquiterpenes 1.0%, Remainder 12.8%, Oxides 0.3%, Monoterpenes 20.0%, Alcohols 60.0%, Phenols, phe. Ethers 1.4% (Caddy, 1997).
Historical facts and traditional uses:
Roses have been used by mankind for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians used them for skincare and fragrancing, and up until the Middle Ages they were also traditionally used as a medicine; Pliny listed 32 rose-based remedies. Roses became a symbol of pleasure during Roman times and were used in many different circumstances, for example as decorations at celebrations, weddings, festivals, for strewing on the floor and in perfumery and cosmetics. The Crusader Robert de Brie is given credit for bringing the Damask rose from Persia to Europe sometime between 1254 and 1276. The rose is named after the city of Damascus in Syria and is renowned for its fine fragrance. Rose oil and rose water (also called Rose Hydrolat) are commonly used in perfumery and cosmetics, and the petals (which are edible) and rose water can also be used for culinary purposes to decorate or flavour food.
Therapeutic properties and indication uses:
Integumentary system:
Therapeutic properties:
Therapeutic uses:
- Broken capillaries
- Redness and inflammation of the skin
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Mature, dry or sensitive skin
Muscular system:
Therapeutic properties:
Therapeutic uses:
Nervous system:
Therapeutic properties:
- Antidepressant
- Sedative
- Tonic
Therapeutic uses:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Grief
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Low mood
Reproductive system:
Therapeutic properties:
Therapeutic uses:
- Boosts libido
- Absent or scant menstruation
- Excessive menstrual bleeding
- Regulates menstrual cycle
Cautions and contra-indications:
Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing (Battaglia, 2007). Avoid using in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.
Interaction with drugs:
Currently there is no reliable data available.
Blends well with:
Most other essential oils including: Benzoin (Styrax benzoin), Bergamot (Citrus bergamia), Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Sweet Orange (Citrus sinenis), Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata).
Additional information:
Rose otto (Rosa damascena) is extracted through steam distillation, producing a pure or true essential oil, whilst Rose Absolute is extracted by solvent extraction, producing an ‘absolute’ rather than a pure or true oil. The aroma of Rose otto isn’t as intense as the absolute, but it is still highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. Rose otto oil is more expensive, as the yield from steam distillation is lower than that of solvent extraction. It is useful to note however that some clients may have skin sensitivity to ‘absolute’ oils, due to traces of solvent residue remaining in the oil.
Research studies:
Alzheimer”s disease (AD), is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. A study was undertaken exploring the effects of Rose essential oil delaying Alzheimer’s disease-like symptoms. Results indicated direct evidence on Rose essential oil for treating Alzheimer’s disease on an organism level providing an indication that it may be used medicinally (Shugian, et al., 2017).
A study was designed to determine the effect of Rose Otto oil (Rosa damascena) in inhalation and foot bath on the improvement of maternal and neonatal health outcomes. 80 women were randomly assigned to aromatherapy and control groups. The Aromatherapy group received inhalation and a foot bath with rose essential oil for 10 minutes at the beginning of the active phase and then at the onset of the transitional phase of labour. The control group received the routine care of the delivery room. The results indicated that the two groups were significantly different in terms of second stage labour duration (Kheirkhah, Valipour, Neisani, & Haghani, 2013).
In a study intended to examine the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with rose essential oil on the anxiety of patients undergoing CABG surgery, 66 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) took part in a single-blind randomized clinical trial. The experimental group inhaled three drops of 4% rose essential oil for 10 minutes one night and one hour before surgery. The control group did not receive any intervention. Results indicated that that inhalation aromatherapy with rose essential oil could not significantly reduce anxiety in CABG patients. Further research with larger sample sizes and using different concentrations of rose essential oil was recommended to achieve more definitive conclusions (Fazlollahpour-Rokni, Seyed Afshin, Nouraddin, Rahman, & Raveanbakhsh, 2019).
Another study looked at the effects of rose oil on human autonomic parameters and emotional responses in healthy subjects after transdermal absorption. This study found that Rose oil, compared to the placebo, caused significant decreases of breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure, indicating a decrease of autonomic arousal. At the emotional level, participants in the rose oil group rated themselves as more calm, more relaxed and less alert than subjects in the control group. These findings support the relaxing effects of rose oil and provide some evidence for the use of rose oil in aromatherapy for relieving stress and depression (Hongratanaworakit T, 2009).
In another study exploring the physiological and subjective effects of daily exposure of olfactory stimulation with rose or orange oil on prefrontal cortex activity, 20 female university students P were exposed to 90 seconds to air impregnated with either rose or orange essential oil. The control group wore the same device but inhaled only unimpregnated air. Results indicated that olfactory stimulation by rose or orange oil induced: (1) a significant decrease in oxyhemoglobin concentration in the right prefrontal cortex and (2) an increase in “comfortable,” “relaxed,” and “natural” feelings. The researchers concluded that olfactory stimulation by rose or orange oil induces physiological and psychological relaxation (Lgarashi, Ikei, Song, & Miyazaki, 2014).
Methods of application and suggested recipes:
Rose otto oil may be used for massage, skincare, bathing and inhalation.
Anti-ageing facial cream
- 2 drops of Sweet Orange
- 4 drops of Roman Chamomile
- 1 drop of Rose Otto
- 15ml Moisturising Cream
- 5ml Rosehip Seed Oil
Mix well and apply morning and evening after cleansing and toning. We recommend our Rose Otto Hydrolat as a natural skin toner.
Painful periods
Mix well and apply to the lower abdomen and back twice a day.
Low mood
- 4 drops of Bergamot
- 8 drops of Geranium
- 2 drops of Rose Otto
Place up to 5 drops of the blend in an aromatherapy diffuser and inhale at regular intervals throughout the day.
As Rose Otto oil is very expensive and highly concentrated we also sell Rose Otto Light. This is pure Rose Otto diluted at 5% in Jojoba which offers a more affordable way to enjoy the wonderful aroma and therapeutic properties of this beautiful essential oil.
Glossary of terms
Antidepressant: Uplifts and counteracts depression
Antiseptic: Destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
Antispasmodic: Relieves spams and cramps of the smooth muscles
Aphrodisiac: Stimulates sexual desire
Astringent: Contracts skin cells and other body tissues
Cicatrisant: Aids healing/formation of scar tissue
Emmenagogue: Promotes and regulates menstruation
Nervine: Nerve tonic, stimulates and strengthens to nervous system
Sedative: Calms and reduces nervousness, distress and agitation
Tonic: Invigorates and strengthens the body to promote health and general well-being
Christine Fisk
Consultant Aromatherapist
Disclaimer & Safety Advice
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Reference list
Battaglia, S. (2003). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.
Caddy, R. (1997). Aromatherapy Essential Oils in Colour. Amberwood Publishing Ltd.
Fazlollahpour-Rokni, F., Seyed Afshin, S., Nouraddin, M., Rahman, G., & Raveanbakhsh, E. (2019). The Effect of Inhalation Aromatherapy with Rose Essential OIl on the Anxiety of Patients Undergoing Coronary artery Bypass Graft Surgery. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 34, 201-07.
Hirota, R., Roger, N., Nakamura, H., Song, H., Sawamura, M., & Suganuma, N. (2010, April 05). Anti‐inflammatory Effects of Limonene from Yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) Essential Oil on Eosinophils. Journal of Food Science, 75(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01541.x
Hongratanaworakit T.(2009). Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans. Nat Prod Commun. 4(2), 291-6.
Kheirkhah, M., Valipour, S. N., Neisani, L., & Haghani, H. (2013). A Controlled Trial of the Effect of Aromatherapy on Birth Outcomes Using “Rose Essential Oil” Inhalation and foot Bath. Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive Health, 2(1), 77-82.
Lgarashi, M., Ikei, H., Song, C., & Miyazaki, Y. (2014). Effects of olfactory stimulation with rose and orange oil on prefrontal cortex activity. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 6, 1027-1031.
Shugian, Z., Hongyu, L., Juan, D., Liu, W., Wang, Y., Wang, X., & Dejuan, Z. (2017). Rose Essential Delayed Alzheier’s Disease-Like Symptoms. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 65(40), 855-865.